Validating an ICAO licence for work

Validating an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) licence for work allows you to fly for remuneration on non-commercial operations, commercial air transport or other commercial activities using your ICAO licence.

This can include:

Non-commercial operations defined under Part-NCC
Filming
Crop spraying
Commercial Air Transport

How do I apply?

Apply by completing Application for the Validation (or Extension of Validation) of a Flight Crew Licence Issued by an ICAO Contracting State for Commercial Activities under UK (EU) Regulation 2020/723 Application form (SRG2134).

Once all the requirements below have been met, the application should be submitted by email to the address pilotvalidation@caa.co.uk.

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How much does it cost?

Validation Initial Issue - £394
Extension to validation (only once for ICAO validations) - £197
Validation variation - £68

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What do I need to send with my application?

You will need to include the following information with your application:

Application for the Validation (or Extension of Validation) of a Flight Crew Licence Issued by an ICAO Contracting State for Commercial Activities under UK (EU) Regulation 2020/723 Application form (SRG2134) with supporting documentation.

Appropriate examiner report following completion of skill test. For the type you wish the validation to be issued for.

Proof of your ID (This can be a certified copy of your valid passport/full UK photographic driving licence, or a close up photo of you holding your ID in which your face and ID are clearly visible)

Letter of Verification from the issuing authority of the pilot’s licence (you will need apply to us for the verification).

Logbook evidence, which must be sent as copies of your logbook pages showing the hours requirements have been met for the validation.

Evidence that you are current and valid on the aircraft type and instrument rating (if applicable) you wish to have the validation issued on. This may be the certificate of revalidation page or logbook pages showing the flight reviews, or licences where there is no certificate of revalidation.

Copies of your ICAO licence and ICAO medical.

All attachments need to be in Portable Document Format (PDF). Any evidence deemed unsuitable will delay your application being processed.

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What else do I need to know?

Who needs to apply

The applicant must apply in conjunction with the airline or company for whom the validation is required to enable the pilot to work.

Pre-requisites

You must hold the following:

A valid and current ICAO licence and medical (this means a valid licence, with a valid rating with a valid medical certificate).
Any class or type ratings you intend to fly with this validation must also be current and valid.
The minimum hours requirements as detailed in Commercial and non commercial activities validations with remuneration (CAP1442) and UK Regulation (EU) 2020/723 Article 5 must be met.

The following must be met:

The aircraft you intend to fly is registered in the UK
or
The operator’s Principal Place of Business is in the UK, irrespective of the registration
or
The aircraft is based/maintained in the UK irrespective of the registration (for example, an N registered aircraft, based and maintained in the UK)

Skill test

You must complete a skill test that comprises of the type or class revalidation requirements. You can complete your skill test with an authorised UK examiner.

Language proficiency

You will need to demonstrate language proficiency, and this must be tested by a UK examiner. If you don’t pass your language proficiency test, you will need to attend an ATO approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).